[Coronavirus] Mouse models for research in August to verify effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine, medicine

SEOUL -- South Korea will supply a large quantity of genetically-engineered mouse models for domestic research in August to verify the effectiveness of vaccines and candidate materials for the treatment of patients infected with a novel coronavirus.

The Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, a government-funded research body, is developing five mouse models that cause lung lesions. It is also creating the "hACE2" protein, a receptor used by the novel coronavirus to enter cells. Mouse models infected with COVID-19 will be used to support the pre-clinical testing of efficacy and quickly develop drugs.

First vice minister Chung Byung-sun of the Ministry of Science and ICT visited the center, on Friday and urged researchers to quicken the development of mouse models, the ministry said in a statement.

"In order to develop COVID-19 treatment by domestic industries, academia, and research institutes, it is essential to use animals that are infected with COVID-19 like humans and develop lung lesions," Chung was quoted as saying.

South Korean drug and bio companies have jumped into the race to develop vaccines or treatments, while doctors have formed a task force to find proper treatment by mixing antiviral drugs.